Acetylene dash-lamp.



PATENTED 00T. 30, 190e'.

No. 834.572. W. o. GREENE.

ACETYLENE -DASHVLAMPE- APPLIUATION FILED APB..14. 1906.'

Witnesses'.

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. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led April 14, 1906. Serial No. 311.632.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that IJ WILL C. GREENE, a citizen of` the United States, residing at Watertown, in the. county of Jefferson and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene Dash- Lamps, of which the following is a specification..

This invention relates to improvements in acetylene dash-lamps designed for use in connection with automobiles and like vehicles to throw a suitable light upon the various gages and lubricators carried by such vehicles when running in the night-time.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, durable, and inexpensive lamp which may be placed on an automobile at any convenient position `behind the dashboard and `which. may be so disposed that it will cast a bright light upon the gages and other devices used'in operating vehicles or cars of the class andl at the same time not throw any rays of light or glare in the drivers or occupants facesto blind or interfere with the'r view ahead.

A further object is to provide a lamp which has but a few parts, may be readily and cheaply installed, and which may be maintained as a lighting instrument at a tri fling cost.

Acetylene gas either in the condensed form, so calledor that which is made directly from generators carried by automobiles has been employed tol a considerable extent for lighting headlights7 side lights, and also for search-lights on this class of vehicles; and my invention contemplates using the same element for lighting up the rear side of the dash. For that purpose I have devised the lamp set forth in the detailed description which follows, and which is illustrated in the drawings forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a view in elevation of my improved dash-lamp. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the lamp, showing the manner of construction and arranging the several parts. Fig. 3 is a view ofa part of an automobile having my dash-lmp applied. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the lamp, substantially on the line a a of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an inverted plan view of the lamp.

Similar reference-numerals are assigned to corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings, 2 represents my dashlamp, which is referably made of brass,VA

of a chimney and is intended to fit' socket 6- tightly enough to hold it in place without any4 ot er securing means.

9 represents a 'small tube which passes through and is fitted rigidly to the base, as shown in Fig. 2. This tube extends a short distance below the base 3 to facilitate attaching a small rubber tube or other suitable sup.- ply-pipe, through which the gas flows to the lamp. Theupper end of tube 9 is 'fitted with a burner, preferably a lava tip 10, which is provided with a small central opening or vent 11. The shielding-tube 7 is provided on one side with an ova -shaped opening l2, and this is disposed a shortfdistance above the burner-tip, as also shown in Fig. 2. As the acetylene gas employed for lighting automobiles is burned under considerable pressure, it has beenfound that the best results for lighting purposes from my lamp are obtained by placing the burner slightly below the opening 12, for the reason that the flame shoots upwardly from the burner for some distance, and the most brilliant portion of it will then be directly opposite the center of opening 12. Under this construction and disposition of the parts the rays of light from the lamp show through the opening 12 and are thrown over a large area of the dash, as shown in Fig. 3.

In order to protect the light from being extinguished bydrafts entering the opening 12, I place a thin sheet of mica 13 inside the tube 7 in such a manner that it completely closes the opening 12, but being transparent and impervious to heat does not lessen the power or efficiency of the lamp for lighting purposes. The mica shield 13 is rolled into tubular shape and inserted in tube 7, and when it expands it will remain in place without any fastening means. The position of the mica is shown by dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2 and infu111ineS,Fig. 4. The afb@ 7 is provided at or near each end with a series of small perforations 14, the object ofthese Patented Oct. 30, 1906.`

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perforations being to furnish ventilation and suitable draft to cause the gas to burn steady and brilliantly.

To light my lamp or to adjust or replace the burner-tip, the tube 7 is removed from lthe socket 6 and then put back in place.

` h/Iyndashlamp is usually applied in the manner illustrated in Fig.- 3 by cutting a hole through the floor of the vehicle and inserting the cylindrical lportion of the base in said opening and then securing it in such a position by means of screws which pass through lthe holes in flange 5'.

- -16 represents an acetylene-gas generator or tank which is carried on the vehicle, as shown in Fig. 3, and the gas is conducted from it to thelamp by means of a tube 17, either flexible or otherwise, which extends from the generator or tank beneath the floor of the auto and connects with the small tube lrof the lamp, as shown by the dotted lines in It is obvious that the several parts comprising my dash-lamp may be varied within the scope defined by the appended claims, and I therefore do not restrict myself to the precise construction described and shown herein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

a burner comprising a detachable tip secured 4 5 to the upper end of said tube, a hollow metallic shield inclosing the portion of said tube which extends above said base, said shield having a large opening through which the light from said burner shines and having a series of small perforations at or near the top and bottom thereof to provide ventilation for said burner, and a transparent substance within said shield to close said opening, substantially as described.

3. An acetylene -lamp of the class described, comprisinfr a suitable base, a hollow shield or shade fittin into a socket formed in the upper side of sai base, a tube extendin T upwardly through said base and within sai shield or shade, a burner mounted on the upper end of said tube, an oval-shaped erforation in said shield or shade through w lich the light from said burner shines, a lining of mica disposed within said shield or shade adapted to close said perforation, and a series of small holes at or near each end of said shield o1' shade, substantially as described.

4. In a lamp of the class described, the combination with a base adapted for attaching said lamp to an automobile, a gas-tube passin upwardly through said base, a socket forme in said base, a hollow metallic shade or shield fitting said socket and concealing the upper end of said gas-tube, a burner or tip secured to the upper end of said gas-tube, a hole in said shade or shield through which the light from said burner or tip shines, a mica lining in said shade or shield adapted to close said hole, and a series of perforations at each end of said shade or shield, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILL C. GREENE. Witnesses:

EDGAR v. B. SoRDoUGH, I-IARRY DE WALLACE. 

